iPhone 6 UAE's most popular handset in Q2

The iPhone 6 has become the most commonly used handset with a 4.9 per cent share of total handsets registered.

The two-thirds of the handsets registered on the domestic telecommunication networks in the country in the quarter ended June 30 were Smartphones, says a report.
The UAE telecom watchdog, the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority, or TRA, said smartphone handset market continued its dominance with a clear majority of 67 per cent, showing their popularity with users.
Samsung replaced Nokia as being the most used handset brand while the third most popular handsets in use was Apple.
The iPhone 6 has become the most commonly used handset with a whopping 4.9 per cent share of total handsets registered; followed by iPhone 5s which had 3.5 per cent share while on the third slot was the Galaxy S Duos with a 2.9 per cent share in the period.
Others in the race in descending order were iPhone 5 with two per cent share; Samsung S III had 1.8 per cent, Samsung Note 3 LTE managed 1.5 per cent, iPhone 6 Plus and Samsung S4 LTE had 1.3 per cent each and iPhone 4S 1.2 per cent share.
The iPhone 6 recorded an increase in market share during the second quarter, the TRA said.
During April-June quarter, the Smartphones that expanded their market share were iPhone 6, Samsung Note 4 LTE, and Galaxy S Duos 2 S and iPhone 6 Plus.
Handsets that lost their place in market include Samsung S III, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, and Samsung S4 LTE.
Blackberry handsets also continue to lose market share, said the telecom watchdog.
Samsung replaced Nokia as being the most used handset brand in the country, with a major share of 32.6 per cent.
The third most popular handsets in use was Apple with a share of 14.2 per cent; followed by Blackberry with 4 per cent, Lenovo around 2.5 per cent, HTC with 1.7 per cent, Sony had 1.5 cent market share, Huawei share was 1.5 per cent and LG had 0.9 per cent market penetration.
The newly emerged brand Lenovo surpassed brands such as HTC, Sony and LG in one quarter. With the exception of both Blackberry and Nokia, all major handset brands witnessed increases in the market shares.
In terms of specific handset models, the iPhone 6 was the most popular mobile handset in the UAE in the quarter ended 30 June.
The iPhone 5s had 3.5 per cent market followed Galaxy S Duos 2 2.9 per cent, Nokia 108 2.3 per cent share, iPhone 5 two per cent, Samsung S III 1.8 per cent share, Nokia E5 1.5 per cent, Samsung Note 3 LTE 1.5 per cent, Nokia 1280/1282 1.5 per cent, iPhone 6 Plus 1.3 per cent, Samsung S4 LTE 1.3 per cent.
Other notable market leaders were Nokia 101/1010 and iPhone 4S 1.2 per cent share each, Samsung S III NEO 0.9 per cent, iPhone-4 and Samsung Note 4 LTE 0.8 per cent each and Samsung S4 0.7 per cent.
Android was the most commonly used operating system in the UAE in the quarter followed by iOS operating system, while the use of Symbian has been declining over time.
- haseeb@khaleejtimes.com